The Filthy, Rich Bitch

Chapter IV

I hate it so much when he calls me wife. I don't want people to know that we're married. I was young when he married me and it's the thing in my life that I regret the most.

Who would believe na almost five years na kaming kasal? And I've hated him ever since. It's quite a bit complicated, our marriage, that is.

I met Daniel when I was in college. Dumalaw siya noon kay Angel. Galing Norway pa raw siya that time. Angel—she was my boardmate back then and a close friend. I didn't know back then that she was rich... awfully, disdainfully, filthy rich. Hindi naman halata sa kanya na sobrang yaman niya. She dresses simply. Hindi maalahas, hindi mahilig sa gadget. Simpleng simple lang siya. Ni hindi ko nga alam na binili pala nila yung boarding house na tinitirhan namin. Kaya pala walang nag-i-inquire doon.

Saka ang mura ng singil nung "landlady" sa 'kin. Five hundred? Come on. Ako naman, hindi na nagtanong. Akala ko kasi, mabait lang talaga 'yong may-ari.

One day, nauna akong umuwi kay Angel. She was so active at school, limang org ang sinalihan niya. And aside from that, she also volunteered for a charity program at school. Hangang-hanga ako sa kanya noon dahil napaka-compassionate niya.

Di ko alam, sa pamilya pala nila yung charity org kung saan siya nag-volunteer.

Noong malapit na ako sa bahay, napansin ko ang isang mamahaling motorcycle na nakaparada sa harap ng bahay. Bukas ang pintuan. Bukas din ang ilaw. Nagmamadali akong pumasok.

At do'n ko siya nakita, nakaupo siya sa kama ni Angel, which is the lower part of the bunk bed. Naka-black leather jacket siya, faded denim jeans saka rider boots. Naka-black knuckle gloves din siya. Gulo-gulo yung buhok niya saka nasa mukha niya ang pagkairita at impatience.

He wasn't hot. No. He was scorching hot.

That was the first that I felt so attracted to a guy.

Nagkatinginan kami nang matagal bago siya tumayo at lumapit sa 'kin. Sa tangkad niya, halos manakit ang leeg ko kakatingala. He smelt of dust and male cologne and sweat—a combination that I never thought I would find sexy.

"Hi. Is Angel here?" he asked me. Napatitig lang ako sa kanya noon, my heart gradually sinking—for I thought na manliligaw siya ni Angel. He'd have to snap his fingers on my face to wake me up from my temporary daze.

"Ha?"

"Si Angel?" pag-uulit niya.

"Wala pa. Sino ka?"

"Gano'n ba?" Naglakad na siya palabas. Bastusan?

Later that night, when Angel came home, I immediately pounced at her for some details. I asked her who the guy was.

"Kuya ko," sagot niya.

Nung malaman ko 'yon, gusto ko siyang batukan. Sa isip-isip ko, Langya! May kuya kang gano'n ka-gwapo tapos hindi mo man lang sinasabi sa 'kin? Syempre hindi ko sinabi 'yon sa kanya.

--

I saw him again the next day. Wala ulit si Angel, birthday naman ng classmate niya kaya gagabihin na naman siya ng uwi. So I'd have to entertain the guy and keep him company until she arrives. The guy wasn't much of a talker. At naiilang ako sa kanya. Nakapag-aral tuloy ako nang wala sa oras para ma-divert ang atensiyon ko.

Alas nwebe na nang makarating si Angel ng bahay but within that span of time, hindi ko man lang nalaman ang pangalan ng kuya niya. We didn't talk the whole time!

"Kuya!"

"Bakit ang tagal mo? Saan ka galing?" tuloy-tuloy na tanong ng kuya niya sa kanya.